by our College Data Analytics TeamMake an informed decision about your education by understanding Hillsdale College retention and graduation rates. First year retention rates let you know how many first-time, full-time students students come back for their second year. Graduation rates tell you how many students complete their degree and how long it takes.
The percentage of first-time / full-time students who return for their second year is tracked as the freshmen retention rate.
With 97% students making it past their freshmen year, Hillsdale College has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in Michigan, the average is 70.80%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| Hillsdale College | 97% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| Michigan | 70.80% |
Of the 314 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 72% of the cohort graduated. After six years 85% had completed their degree, and 85% after eight years.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a student is considered to have graduated on time if they complete their degree within six years, making the official Hillsdale College graduation rate 85%.
The average length of time it takes an Hillsdale College undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.14 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 267 | 72% |
| Six Years | 314 | 85% |
| Eight Years | 1 | 0% |
| Did Not Complete | 55 | 15% |
Approximately 55 students or 15% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 55 students who did not complete their degree?
2 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
Hillsdale College lost contact with the remaining 35 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 3.6% |
| Transferred | 20 | 36.4% |
| Dropped Out | 35 | 63.6% |
First-time, full-time students, under the age of 25 are known as traditional students. These students are more likely to graduate in four years than so called 'non-traditional' students that includes part-time students, transfer students, or adult learners. Some schools cater to non-traditional students and it may affect their overall graduation rates.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at Hillsdale College are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
How does this school do graduating the type of student you are most concerned bout?
First-time / full-time students at Hillsdale College represent 92% of the students in the class of 2015, and 92.04% of Hillsdale College bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 72%, first-time students in the Hillsdale College class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the Hillsdale College graduation rate was 85%, and by the eight year mark, 86% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | Hillsdale College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 72% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 85% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 86% | 47.82% |
49 first-time / full-time students or 14% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
2 are still enrolled.
20 transferred to another institution.
Hillsdale College lost contact with the remaining 29 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 2 | 4.08% |
| Transferred | 20 | 40.82% |
| Dropped Out | 29 | 59.18% |
First-time / part-time students at Hillsdale College represent 0.27% of the students in the class of 2015.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | Hillsdale College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 1% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 1% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 1% | 23.72% |
1 first-time / part-time students or 100% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Hillsdale College lost contact with the remaining 1 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 1 | 100.00% |
30 Hillsdale College students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 8.09% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 83%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 83%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | Hillsdale College | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 83% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 83% | 55.07% |
5 non first-time / part-time students or 17% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
0 transferred to another institution.
Hillsdale College lost contact with the remaining 5 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 0 | 0.00% |
| Dropped Out | 5 | 100.00% |
Unfortunately, we don’t have access to data on Hillsdale College returning, part-time students.
